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No arrests as search for clues continues in Edgewater 'family tragedy' death

James L'Hommedeiu, father of a man found dead in Edgewater, was questioned bhy investigators at his Kumquat Drive home on Tuesday.

MARK I. JOHNSONStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 9:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.

EDGEWATER -- No arrests have been made related to the discovery of a man's dead body in a ditch in the Florida Shores subdivision, but police said Wednesday the investigation remains “very active.”

Investigators concluded their search of the home of James L'Hommedeiu, 65, 2204 Kumquat Drive, Wednesday morning, said police spokesman Capt. Joe Mahoney.

Detectives, members of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office crime scene unit and officials with the State Attorney's Office served a search warrant at the residence Tuesday afternoon. The search continued throughout the night Tuesday and into Wednesday morning as law enforcement officials worked to piece together what occurred between L'Hommedeiu and his son, Keith L'Hommedeiu, 45, overnight Monday.

“We concluded that search about 9 a.m. Wednesday and have turned the house back over to its owner,” he said.

When asked why the search took so long, Mahoney replied, “This is a death investigation and we want to be thorough.”

He added, “This continues to be a very active investigation.”

Police were called to the 2200 block of Kumquat before 7 a.m. Tuesday when Keith L'Hommedeiu's body was discovered in front of 2216 Kumquat Drive, about three houses down the street from his father's home. The medical examiner discovered one gunshot wound to the body, police said.

The younger L'Hommedeiu's death was an “isolated family tragedy,” Edgewater Police Chief David Arcieri said Tuesday afternoon. But no details of that “tragedy” were released other than a domestic disturbance had occurred sometime prior to the body being found and James L'Hommedeui was “the other involved individual” in the death, the chief said in a prepared statement.

The exact cause of death could not be determined until the autopsy was completed, Arcieri said.

Neighbors described the elder L'Hommedeui, whom they only knew as James or Jim, as a man who kept to himself.

Across-the-street neighbor Tim Grlyboski, 63, said he talked with the father and son outside their home Monday afternoon and there was no evidence of stress between the two.

“All was upbeat,” he said. “This is really strange.”

Grlyboski said he believed L'Hommedeiu's son had been visiting his father since the weekend.

<p>EDGEWATER -- No arrests have been made related to the discovery of a man's dead body in a ditch in the Florida Shores subdivision, but police said Wednesday the investigation remains “very active.” </p><p> Investigators concluded their search of the home of James L'Hommedeiu, 65, 2204 Kumquat Drive, Wednesday morning, said police spokesman Capt. Joe Mahoney. </p><p> Detectives, members of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office crime scene unit and officials with the State Attorney's Office served a search warrant at the residence Tuesday afternoon. The search continued throughout the night Tuesday and into Wednesday morning as law enforcement officials worked to piece together what occurred between L'Hommedeiu and his son, Keith L'Hommedeiu, 45, overnight Monday. </p><p> “We concluded that search about 9 a.m. Wednesday and have turned the house back over to its owner,” he said. </p><p> When asked why the search took so long, Mahoney replied, “This is a death investigation and we want to be thorough.” </p><p> He added, “This continues to be a very active investigation.” </p><p> Police were called to the 2200 block of Kumquat before 7 a.m. Tuesday when Keith L'Hommedeiu's body was discovered in front of 2216 Kumquat Drive, about three houses down the street from his father's home. The medical examiner discovered one gunshot wound to the body, police said. </p><p> The younger L'Hommedeiu's death was an “isolated family tragedy,” Edgewater Police Chief David Arcieri said Tuesday afternoon. But no details of that “tragedy” were released other than a domestic disturbance had occurred sometime prior to the body being found and James L'Hommedeui was “the other involved individual” in the death, the chief said in a prepared statement. </p><p> The exact cause of death could not be determined until the autopsy was completed, Arcieri said. </p><p> Neighbors described the elder L'Hommedeui, whom they only knew as James or Jim, as a man who kept to himself. </p><p> Across-the-street neighbor Tim Grlyboski, 63, said he talked with the father and son outside their home Monday afternoon and there was no evidence of stress between the two. </p><p> “All was upbeat,” he said. “This is really strange.” </p><p> Grlyboski said he believed L'Hommedeiu's son had been visiting his father since the weekend.</p>